These courses are designed to flow on one after the other so for those who want an accelerated and extended learning experience combining both courses will be a great option.

Introductory Ground Skills  Feb 10-12

Three full days to immerse yourself in learning the philosophy and techniques of “Connecting with  Horses and Riding with Synchronicity”. This course is the most important of  all the courses I teach. It sets the foundation of concepts and principles from which all the rest is built. It is essential for all who are new to this teaching whether they are a beginner or had years of experience. It begins to teach people how to understand their horses minds, emotions and their physical bodies. It helps people understand that a lot of the difficult behaviours and emotions that they experience with horses are often actually reflections of themselves and that horses are often just showing humans the emotional issues or blockages or restrictions that they need to address within themselves. You will learn about the spiritual nature of horses and the spiritual connection between horses and humans.  This course teaches the core principles of centering, breathing, body scanning, energy awareness and body language which are all essential keys to success with horses.  Begin the journey to becoming a “true” horseman. “True” meaning with the qualities that the horses themselves would choose to have in a horseman.

Connect with your horse’s heart and mind and hear what horses have to say. Learn to listen.

Learn the principles and qualities of great leadership

Learn the art of nonverbal communication – thoughts, energy and body language

Learn how horses learn

Learn the ever elusive and commonly unteachable qualities of FEEL – mental, emotional, physical and energetic feel

Develop safe horse handling skills and habits on the ground.

Learn techniques on the ground that help horses to use their bodies with healthy biomechanics and lead into the fundamental aids and techniques used to ride horses in harmony and in a balanced and engaged way. The qualities of feel, timing and balance learned on the ground will help develop the skills you need to be a great rider.

As well as connecting with the horse, Mel specializes in teaching people to understand equine posture, balance and  biomechanics,  engagement and collection. This will be of particular importance to dressage riders but it is actually very important at its most fundamental level to riders of all disciplines, including trail riders. This course will teach people the beginnings of this learning. These principles can also be applied to driving and harness horses.

This course will be co-taught with Tony Robinson – Master Healer, Horseman and Bodyworker. Tony’s highest area of expertise is in the spiritual, emotional and energetic elements of horse and human interactions. Tony will teach the healing aspects of horsemanship – addressing both the emotional and physical aspects of healing. This healing will calm the mind, clear the unresolved emotions that are impeding progress and causing physical issues in the body, free the physical body from restrictions and heal injuries – all of this for both the horses and humans. This teaching is critical to help us attain force free horsemanship and the highest levels of performance. It also takes us into the deeper spiritual levels of horsemanship which helps us understand the connections and interactions between horses and humans.

Come along with or without your horse. Of course if you can bring your horse along your learning will be maximized as nothing beats hands on experience and having direct feedback from a supportive instructor to accelerate your learning. However the other option for attending these courses is to come and participate without a horse, in which case you would actively participate in all of the theory sessions, Q & A sessions, body awareness and balance sessions, healing sessions and simulations as well as  watch the demonstrations and observe those with horses practice and experiment with the exercises and tasks.

Investment

The cost come with your horse is $595 for the 3 days  (if a 50% deposit is received before Jan 10th) or $695 there after.
The cost to come without your horse is $95/day or $285 for the 3 days.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a raw beginner and/or feel very unconfident or unsafe in handling or riding your horse please contact me before registering and booking into this course with your horse. Your horse must be started and rideable unless you just choose to do the ground work aspects. No stallions without prior permission.

For questions regarding the course content, horsemanship or eligibility for the course contact Mel mel@melfleming.com.au

Riding in Synchronicity –
Introductory/Intermediate Riding Course – Feb 13-16

‘Riding in Synchronicity’ means to ride in perfect synchronicity and harmony, becoming like a centaur where you become part of the horse and the horse becomes part of you. To achieve this we need to understand the horse’s physical body and the biomechanics of how their body works. It is vitally important for horses to be ridden in correct posture and biomechanical balance if they are to enjoy the experience, stay sound, be healthy and reach their highest athletic potential.

This course teaches the fundamental principles and “how to” of learning to ride with harmony, effortlessness and ease. Start learning the secrets to happy and successful partnerships with horses. Whether you just want to ride for pleasure or have high aspirations for competition these secrets  will be invaluable. These fundamental keys will  develop you to be a great rider and will be of great benefit whether you are relatively new to riding or had many years in the saddle. Even high level competition riders have been greatly helped by this teaching.   If  you are a raw beginner please contact me before booking to make sure that this course will be appropriate for you to come with your horse.

There are some common principles that will be found at the highest levels in all great sports people – athletes, martial artists, dancers, singers – these principles also apply to horsemanship and riding.  I have learned these principles through feldenkrais and martial arts as well as what I have learned through my experience with horses. These principles lead us to riding with fluidity, moving freely with the horse and without brace or resistance. They require being centered, aligned and using our body in a smooth, unified, open and expansive way, the opposite of being in a state of contraction or tension. The techniques presented will lead to you feeling more balanced and that means safer and more comfortable in your riding, as well as allowing your horses to move with healthy biomechanics which results in them being calmer, happier, having less resistance and with the possibility of reaching their highest athletic potential. To achieve these aims, the teaching includes a lot of body awareness and body balancing exercises. I am very excited to share all of this with you because it will be a game changer  for you and your horse.

It is possible to just do the first two days of this course if you can’t do the whole four.

This course will be co-taught with Tony Robinson – Master Healer, Horseman and Bodyworker. Tony’s highest area of expertise is in the spiritual, emotional and energetic elements of horse and human interactions. Tony will teach the healing aspects of horsemanship – addressing both the emotional and physical aspects of healing. This healing will calm the mind, clear the unresolved emotions that are impeding progress and causing physical issues in the body, free the physical body from restrictions and heal injuries – all of this for both the horses and humans. This teaching is critical to help us attain force free horsemanship and the highest levels of performance. It also takes us into the deeper spiritual levels of horsemanship which helps us understand the connections and interactions between horses and humans.

Come along with or without your horse. Of course if you can bring your horse along your learning will be maximized as nothing beats hands on experience and having direct feedback from a supportive instructor to accelerate your learning. However the other option for attending these courses is to come and participate without a horse, in which case you would actively participate in all of the theory sessions, Q & A sessions, body awareness and balance sessions, healing sessions and most simulations as well as  watch the demonstrations and observe those with horses practice and experiment with the exercises and tasks.

Investment

The cost to come with your horse is $780 for the 4 days (if a 50% deposit is received before Jan 10th ) or $925 there after.

The cost to come with your horse for 2 days is $390 (if a 50% deposit is received before Jan 10th ) or $465 there after.

The cost to come without your horse is $95/day or $19o for the 2 days or $380 for 4 days.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a raw beginner and/or feel very unconfident or unsafe in handling or riding your horse please contact me before registering and bohoking into this course with your horse. No stallions without prior permission.

For questions regarding the course content, horsemanship or eligibility for the course contact Mel mel@melfleming.com.au

Private Sessions – Lessons, Saddle fitting & BALANCE saddle test rides, Healing sessions

Private lessons  ($110/hr), Saddle fittings and opportunities to test ride the BALANCE saddles are available on request. Saddle fittings with the BALANCE saddles take 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. cost $150.  

For questions regarding the course content, horsemanship or eligibility for the course contact Mel  mel@melfleming.com.au

Course Venue

” Full Circle” Farm

Round Hill Road, Wilton

Sharryn Hilton Ferguson’s Place.

For details about the venue, including directions and horse and human stay, contact Sharryn.

0414 567 895        02 4677 0061

sharrynhilton@me.com

3 DAY COURSE INTRODUCTORY GROUND COURSE

RIDER 3 day  course 

RIDER 50% deposit 3 day  course  

AUDITOR  3 day  course

AUDITOR 50% deposit  3 day  course

4 DAY COURSE RIDING COURSE

RIDER 4 day  course 

RIDER 50% deposit 4 day  course  

AUDITOR  4 day  course

AUDITOR 50% deposit  4 day  course